Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean

Sometimes my tears flow slowly

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,Tears from the depth of some divine despairRise in the heart, and gather in the eyes,In looking on the happy autumn-fields,And thinking of the days that are no more...

Dear as remembered kisses after death,And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feignedOn lips that are for others; deep as love,Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;O Death in Life, the days that are no more!